CAB Reviews 2018 13, No. 031 The underestimated worth of predatory and parasitic mites in India: does it really have to import exotic species for biological control? Salil Kumar Gupta1 and Prakya Sreerama Kumar2* Address: 1Medicinal Plants Research and Extension Centre, Ramakrishna Mission, Narendrapur, Kolkata 700 103, India. 2Division of Germplasm Conservation and Utilisation, ICAR–National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, P.O. Box 2491, H.A. Farm Post, Hebbal, Bengaluru 560 024, India. *Correspondence: Prakya Sreerama Kumar. Email: [email protected] Received: 22 August 2017 Accepted: 15 August 2018 doi: 10.1079/PAVSNNR201813031 The electronic version of this article is the definitive one. It is located here: http://www.cabi.org/cabreviews © CAB International 2018 (Online ISSN 1749-8848) Abstract Predatory and parasitic mites are likely to assume a greater role in crop protection as world attention is now focused on finding out alternative means of agricultural pest management, and some may be beneficial in the medical and veterinary fields. This review on the status of research on predatory and parasitic mites in India is written in the light of the recent push for introduction of exotic phytoseiid mites into the country. It provides an overview of the predatory mites associated with agri-horticultural crops as well as of some insects of public health importance in India and also of some known from outside the country for appreciating their potential. It has information on predatory mites representing 27 families under three orders, viz. Mesostigmata, Trombidiformes (suborder Prostigmata), Sarcoptiformes (suborder Oribatida, cohort Astigmatina and also cohort excluding Astigmatina). Since phytoseiid mites are the most dominant, highly effective, economically important and widespread predators, the major emphasis has been laid on this family. The promising predators that emerged out of this review are: Amblyseius channabasavannai, A. herbicolus, A. largoensis, Euseius alstoniae, E. finlandicus, E. ovalis, Neoseiulus fallacis, N. longispinosus, Scapulaseius suknaensis, Transeius tetranychivorus (Phytoseiidae); Agistemus fleschneri, A. industani, Eryngiopus coimbatorensis (Stigmaeidae); Anystis baccarum, Walzia indiana (Anystidae); Cunaxa setirostris (Cunaxidae); Pronematus fleshneri (Iolinidae); and Pyemotes tritici (Pyemotidae), all associated with various agri-horticultural crops; Microtrombidium saharanpuri and Arrenurus species parasitizing housefly and mosquitoes, respectively. Since many of the predatory mite families appear to be still unexplored, those need immediate attention for exploration, documentation and profitable exploitation. The need to give more emphasis and encouragement to indigenous predatory mites than to exotic species is also discussed. Keywords: Biological control, Importation, Natural enemies, Pest management Review Methodology: This review has been prepared based on the information collected from published books, particularly the ones on India-specific Acari written by the senior author, and from several online resources, including CAB Direct (www.cabdirect.org). Further, a few important textbooks and manuals on mites were also consulted, and the cross-references from the bibliography collated thus were sourced to obtain further information for the review. As far as possible, an up-to-date review has been attempted by thoroughly checking with publicly available online resources as well. Introduction and insects, spiders and pathogens, but not parasitoids. Similarly, several insect pests of medical and veterinary Phytophagous mites, which cause enormous losses to importance are often debilitated by parasitic mites in agriculture and horticulture, are often decimated in the nature. In view of this importance, attempts have been field by their natural enemies that include predatory mites made worldwide, including in India, to survey and http://www.cabi.org/cabreviews 2 CAB Reviews document the predatory and parasitic mites for controlling prey upon a variety of nematodes and small arthropods [8]. agricultural pests and also those pests which are of medical This family has not received enough attention in India. and veterinary importance. The present review aims at giving a critical overview on predatory and parasitic mites to highlight how much is known and what should be the future strategy with Family Blattisociidae special reference to the Indian context so as to achieve sustainable agriculture and reduce dependency as much This is an assemblage of diverse groups that occur in as possible on chemical control measures. This review terrestrial, arboreal and subaquatic habitats [9, 10]. A total assumes special significance in the light of efforts by of 389 species of Blattisociidae are known from the world multinational pest control companies to extensively intro- [11], while India represents about 33 species. These large, duce exotic predatory mites such as Amblyseius swirskii brownish or whitish mites prey upon nematodes, micro- (Athias-Henriot) and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) arthropods and fungi [12]. into India. Risks such as non-target effects, changes in the Blattisociids are common predators of acarid mites, trophic web as well as threats to the environment and and eggs and larvae of insects in stored products and indigenous biodiversity are of high concern wherever nests of small mammals and birds [13, 14]. Some are exotic species are considered for introduction. Though uninvited pests of laboratory cultures of arthropods [15]. exotic species have been released in several countries Some are phoretic and several species occur in rotten without even considering the use of native species, a logical habitats [16]. way to reduce the risks involved in releasing exotic species, Blattisocius tarsalis (Berlese) is a good predator of a particularly for augmentative biological control, would be number of tetranychid mites and moths. It controls stored to use native species [1]. Unfortunately, the above- grain pests under controlled conditions [17]. Adult mentioned exotic agents are meant for augmentative blattisociine females are known to attach themselves to biological control and not for classical biological control moths phoretically and may feed on the eggs and larvae of of pests in India. the hosts [18]. Though importation of predatory mites was not new to Over 150 species are known from the world under the India, the attempts were not as fruitful as anticipated. For genus Lasioseius [19]. Several Lasioseius species, including instance, in September 1961, Typhlodromus newsami (Evans) Lasioseius parberlesei (Tseng), are good natural enemies of [=Scapulaseius newsami (Evans)] was imported from the rice panicle mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki (Smiley), and Malaysia for trials against several mite species in tea, but can suppress the pest population. Lasioseius scapulatus could not be established [2]. Phytoseiulus persimilis (Kennett) is an important species for nematode control. (Athias-Henriot) was first imported by the Indian Station Lasioseius safroi (Ewing) preys upon nematodes under the of Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control in 1965 bark of pine infested with Ips beetles [16]. Lasioseius species from Chile via Switzerland for use against Tetranychus are efficient predatory mites in Australia [20]. Adult females species on several crops [3]. Though it was recovered of some species are phoretic on hummingbirds [21]. from the released sites, eventually it could not be used Blattisociids associated with plants have not been ade- for the intended purpose. In 1984, P. persimilis was quately explored in India. again imported from the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute, Littlehampton in England, for research under the All-India Coordinated Research Project on Biological Control of Crop Pests and Weeds [4]. Unfortunately, Family Laelapidae even that attempt was not sustainable. Similarly, Amblyseius chilenensis (Dosse) [=Neoseiulus chilenensis (Dosse)], This is a diverse group both morphologically and behav- which was imported from the USA in 1984 for use against iourally. These large, brownish mites are free-living Tetranychus species [5], met with the same fate. or associated with arthropods, birds or mammals. Some are predators, some nest-dwelling and some obligatory or facultative parasites of birds and mammals [16]. They Order Mesostigmata are good predators of soil insects and nematodes, helping in biological control. Hypoaspsis aculifer Family Ascidae (Canestrini) brought about control of the plant nematode Tylenchorhynchus dubius (Buetschli) in a pot experiment This family includes two subfamilies, Arctoseiinae and [22]. Haemogamasus pontiger (Berlese) feeds on acarid Ascinae. These are free-living predators that occupy mites in bird nests in Norway [23]. The nests having this diverse habitats and prey upon nematodes, micro- mite had fewer fleas as well. Stratiolaelaps scimitus arthropods and eggs of sciarid flies [6]. Asca species are (Womersly) is known as a biocontrol agent of dipteran known to consume other mites, nematodes and small pests on mushrooms [24]. Laelapids have not received insects such as collembolans [7]. Species of Antennoseius enough attention in India. http://www.cabi.org/cabreviews Salil Kumar Gupta and Prakya Sreerama Kumar 3 Family Macrochelidae Khot). However, this family has not been investigated well in India, and only one species as a predator has been It is an assemblage of 400 species under 15 genera from the reported [38]. world.